I am seriously thinking about a career change. I took Geography/GIS during college, and learned a lot from it.

Question

However, I seem to have a problem with doing what interests me, and instead doing what I think I should be doing. I guess it comes from my quest of contributing something good to our world. I have lots of interests, but can't seem to put a finger on what I would love to do most, and still earn a decent living.

My interests are as follows:
*the Arts - dance, literature, art, music
*Technology - computers, software
*the Environment - water, mountains, animals
*Children - ages 3-12 yrs old
*the Elderly
*Culture - learning about other cultures, especially indigenous people
*Teaching - adults or children
*Planning events/activities
*Traveling
*Helping the needy, or the poor

Weaknesses:
I do need to improve my social (relational) and advocacy skills. :)

Are there any jobs out there that involve some or all of these things? I know if I'm creative enough I can integrate them all somehow. Any help would be appreciated!

Answer 1

OK. Your outstanding self-analysis indicates high order conceptualization skills. Our current civilization fails to adequately reward those skills, favoring, instead, the "stamp collectors" and obedient paper pushers over the more global conceptualists. It's a heart-wrenching reality for people like you. And, you'll drive yourself into the ground trying to figure out how to fulfill your truest potential in an ocean of concrete thinkers. What most people with your abilities end up doing is compartmentalizing their true talents into a separate "hobby" in their lives. Gosh, I am SO tired of that, for humanity's sake, because what the world needs most right now are people who care, who have global vision and articulate personal insight. That being said, and essentially ranted, let me think here for a second about a realistic answer.
Later: Here's an idea that you might like, and which is potentially highly profitable. The elderly democraphic group, especially in nursing homes, is an enormous target market. And, projections related to Babyboomers and their giant "lump in the snake" demographic grouping indicate a HUGE aging target group. We are not only expected to live longer, but, we are living longer with greater mental lucidity. The aging desparately desire appropriately designed education. In nursing homes, for example, the residents feel as though no one is adequately explaining to them their medications, disease processes or aging processes. Their vision and hearing losses impair them and prevent them from benefitting from most reading and lecture material that is commonly used in the traditional classroom approach. One resident in a nursing home complained, "We want to know about the new science discoveries, the new concepts of society. But, at our age, we don't have the time or mental acuity to start from scratch and work our way up through college genetics in order to gain a working comprehension of stem call research." Nursing homes have recreation directors that are DESPARATE for educational material that they can use in their programs. One suggestion that I used once was a homemade adult coloring book format with a cheap binder that had a sketch on the left page with a two or three paragraph text on the facing right page. While the recreation director read the text in group classes, the residents colored the sketch. They LOVED it. The text was SIMPLE breakdowns of what each and every field of science was. That was all. They loved especially that at the end of each page of text, I mentioned the FUTURE science of each field. For example, for space exploration, I ended with a mention of the space elevators that are going to be built. The future, when presented in a bright and positive way, inspired the learners and gave them hope. The very same idea can be done with nursery schools for directors to print up copies of to send home with children every weekend for Parent/Child weekend craft or science activities. Your product could be sold as a subscription to nursing homes, for example, through a website that recreation directors could access with paid subscriptions. Syndicate yourself through recreation directors professional organizations and nursing home directories. ( I have more ideas, but I feel like I'm hogging your page. You have my e-mail)

Answer 2

If you do not have a teaching degree, think seriously about getting one. Teaching will suit most of your needs and abilities and still give you time for your others.

With teaching as your primary field, you can also get involved in community theater, local environmental projects, and plan activities where kids and elderly work together. Traveling is possible during the summer months.

Answer 3

I think you should do what ever makes you happy. Many people have that problem where they want to contribute to others. But the only way in which you can contribute to others is by doing something that you enjoy. If you do something which does not make you happy the only thing you are going to contribute is you negativity based on a job that you don't really want. Look deep into yourself and see what it is that makes you happy then and only then can you truly contribute to others

Answer 4

Start a nonprofit drama company that does plays about the earth's geography and environment at schools and nursing homes. Donate a percentage of proceeds to local charity organizations or where you think aid is needed.

Answer 5

Why does your job have to integrate all of it? You'll have free time to pursue the rest. Why not get a teaching certificate from your state and start helping kids learn?

Answer 6

Well, if you have a geography GCE and a slight knowledge of maths, you must become a market trader----- it worked for RODNEY !!!!!! (DAVE), Del`s bruv from Peckam, t.v. star, freewheeler driver.